The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-04-23

business woman that she was, with q
lsving kiss hurried Will off 10 find some
one who would buy her now useless
finery which with "A sigh, she proceeded
TO arrange. She was woman; IL was q
sore task to part with the pretty dresses
Just bought. AS she was kneeling AT her
trunk there came tap upon the door.
Come ini" she cried.
a man entered; it was Dclos Dodge,
professional gambler.
Henry started to her feet and faced
him, looking like little fury. Delos
Dodge had nothing of the reverend
character which the title ID. ID. that his as
sociates bestowed upon him would have
indicated, unless it might be his appear
ance Faultlessly dressed with no dis.
play of lewerly, smooth, pale face,
and quiet department that nothing was
ever known to disturb, white neck-tie
would have transformed him, so far as
looks went, into modern minister Of the
gospel. But the spare chin and firm mouth
and the cold fixed glare of his eye showed
"old ID. d. to be man that it would
not do to affront: few men had risked
his anger, and most Of them lived TO re-
greet it,
door, and then said, most politely:
81 peg your pardon for disturbing you,
Mrs. Moore, but the servant informed me
that your husband was here. wish TO see
him. Busy packing to start, ! see"
Then Henuy-poor Hcnny-pourcd out
upon him, the man who robbed her hus-
band, her heapcd-up wrath:
Packing to 90 way, YOU impudent vii.
l., . hat -
when YOU robbcd-yes, robbcd-my poor
Willie, after making him drunk, of every
cent he had in the wide world. Oh, how
hate YOU And you have the insolencc
to come here, after all, and to look me in
the face and ask me about going way.
You'd like to see the poor boy starve, all
of yOu-thats what you want, But I'll
spite you. I'll work for him-work for
him. yes, till drop dead"
Henry stopped to take breath, and then
Delos Dodge spoke calmly and quietly:
"Mrs. Moore, please to listen to me for
a few moments. Your husband is young,
and rather foolish and weak, but | like
him, and | like and respect you. You are
an honest, good girl | went TO our rooms
last night and found your husband,
decidedly the worse for liquor, play
ing with Mr.. Lawton. Mr.. Moore had
lost all his ready money, and applied
TO me to cash his cheek for cOnsid-
cradle amount. knew what would hap
pen, and forced myself into the game
much to the disgust of the others. In
three hours had your husbands checks
for a., 800 in my possession. Here they
are" continued ID. D., producing them
from his vest pocket. Il came here this
morning, trusting to find Mr. Moore alone.
You VIII do rs we'll. What now do with
these checks you will please tell no one;
it would ruin my enviable reputation"
And DelOs Dodge, the gambler, gave Il
low laugh as he tore the checks into small
bits and scattered the pieces at the feet of
the staring astonished little wife.
"Os, d. D.-Mr. Dodge, | mean-How
can thank you" she cried.
by saying nothing of tsis to any one
but your husband. Pack up now and get
him away from here, and tell him from
me to drop the drink and the play; he
hasn't the head for either. And, now,
goodbye, Mrs. Moore, and pleasant
journey and good fortune to you,' and he
held out his hand.
please forgive me for what ! said
won't youH she begged.
oh. certainly; twas but natural, and
did you good Goodbye and again he
helh out his hand
She looked up at him If her friends had
heard OF what she next did, they would
have said: That's Just Honnv all over"
She reached up, put her arms about his
neck, drew his head down and kissed him.
Then she sank upon the floor, sObbing,
wOmau-iilie, for 10y.
Mr.. Dodge walked down the stairs very
slowly. His face was palcr than usual,
and there was slight moisture in the
cold gray eyes that sOftened their stony
glare As he passed through to the street
upon the steps of the house he found Mr..
Chick I.aWtun.
"Wny, hello, ID. d. ~ exclaimed Chick.
Nv hat are you doing here!'
II saw Billy Moore rushing down street,
and | thought I'd just drop round and
cheer Henry up little; but you was
ahead of me, YOU old 'pOssum. Billy's
down on the luck this morning, ! guess,
and I'm 50 tender-hearted that | thought
I'd come and offer them a V or an Y. FL
just run up and keep Henry company till
Billy comes back
Dodge laid his hand on Chicks arm.
Mrs Moore is very busy, Mr.. Lawton,"
said he, with an ugly look in his eyes.
Take my advice and don't go up. You
had much better walk down street with
me this fine cool mOrning-inde ed you
had Mr. Lawton. Come'
Mr. l.. did not care TO dlsoblige Mr.. d.
II might make Mr.. d. angry. 1t was dan
gerous to anger the quiet Mr.. D.; and so
Dir, L., who was particularly careful OF
his "big- hcarted" self, trotted down street
beside old ID. D., who seemed inclined TO
silence, But Chick hated silence, and
soon broke out:
You wouldn't have acted toward Moore
as was a bouI to dO-now, you know YOU
wouldn't, you heartless Old ID. D."
II certainly would not" was the reply.
II knew it, crowed Chick. That's be-
cause you've got no heart, you. see. 1t
gives fellow cold in the head merely
to look at you. Come in here and take
something to warm up that cold blood Of
yours
Il thank you; Iseldom drink"
81 know ii; that's because you've no
heart | actually believe your veins are
filed with ice water. Come in and take
something warming" persisted Chick.
Go and get your drink. Excuse me.
have something on my lips that ! don't
~